Thill-coupling



UNITED STATES PATENT Prion.

GEORGE A. MCNUTT, QF KNXVILLE, TENNESSEE;

THILL-oouPLiNe.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 443,715, dated December 30, 1890. Application filed May 28, 1890. Serial No. 353,459. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. MCNUTT, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Knoxville, in the county of Knox and State of Tennessee,have invented a new and useful Anti- Rattler for Thill-Couplings, of which the Jfollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements for anti-rattlers for thill-couplings; and it consists in certain novel features hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a thill-coupling provided with my improved anti-rattler. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the parts of the anti-rattler detached.

A designates the axle, upon which is mounted the usual clip B, the terminals of which are connected by the clip-plate and secured by the nuts B2 in position, the faces of the outer nut being flush with the end ot' plate B when turned parallel therewith. From the opposite edges of the outerterminal of the clip project the ears A', between which, by the bolt C', is pivoted the thill-iron C.

My invention consists of two springs or members D E, which are arranged in the rear of the thill-iron and between the same and the axle. The member D is provided at its upper end with a curved portion F, which lits around and bears on the rear side of the eye of the thill-iron, is bent vertically below the same, as at D', and its lower end is bent horizontally rearward and provided with a transverse slot G, as shown. The member D is further provided upon the inner side ofl the depending portion D with an internallythreaded boss II, in which a set-screw I is mounted. The member E of the anti-rattler is inserted downward between the thill-iron and axle and is provided at its upper end with the laterallugs or shoulders J, which are adapted to rest on the coupling-arms of the clip and thereby support the said member E. The member E is provided at its lower end with a downwardly-proj ectin g tongue K,which is straight and is reduced in width, so as to engage the transverse slotv G in the member D. Near its middle the member E is transversely bent, as at E', so that the lower p ortion is oiset in front and out' of the plane of the upper portion.

In practice the member D is inserted upward in rear of the thill-iron, and the member E is then inserted downward in rear of the said member D and the tongue K engaged in the slot G, as shown. lVhen in position, the upper portion of the member E rests squarely and flatly against the outer face of the outer or front terminal of the clip B, and the lower portion of said member extends down in front of and rests flat-ly against the combined surfaces of the outer nut of the clip and the corresponding end of the clip-plate. The set-screw I is then mounted in the boss H,with its end bearing against the rear member E, opposite the before-mentioned front nut, and it is then turned so as to separate the upper ends of the two members, and thereby cause the front member D to bear firmly on the thill-iron and hold the same snugly against the coupling-pin, so as to prevent all rattling. By reason of the bending of the rear member E of the spring the same has a flat square bearing nearly throughout its length, the same is partially supported by the end of the clip-plate, and said member yis tightly clamped between the end of the screw and the face of the nut. Thus the anti-rattler is not only held absolutely immovable,but the nut of the clip is retained against turning.

It will be observed that my device is very simple in its construction and efiicient in its operation. The tongue-and-slot connection between the lower ends of the members forms practically a hinge which permits the upper ends of the members to be separated, and the screw mounted in the front member and bearing against the rear member serves to force the members apart and hold them in the separated position, so that any desired pressure may be brought to bear on the thill-iron.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isf The combination, with the axle, the inverted-U-shaped clip, the clip-plate connecting the terminals thereof, the nutsv upon the lower ends of the clip, the perforated lugs extending from the front terminal, the thill-iron IOO and the bolt passed therethrough, and the ears, of the anti-rattler comprising the two members D and E, the latter being provided with the curved tliill-iron-embraoing portion D, the straight vertical depending portion D', and the rearwardly-bentlower end havin g the opening G, said memberbeing provided upon its portion D with a threaded perforated boss Il, and the latter member having the trans 'verse bend E', forming the lower front oit'set, that portion of the member above the bend resting flat against the front terminal of the clip and the lower portion of the member resting squarely against the end ot' the elip- GEORGE A. MONUTT.

\Vitnesses:

Jos. R. MITCHELL, W. K. MITCHELL. 

